A residential lease is a legal document that defines the terms and conditions of a rental property. It’s governed by state laws and can be used for houses, apartments, studios, condos, duplexes, townhouses, basements, or mobile homes.
It should be signed by the landlord and tenants. It should also contain their legal names and addresses.
Basics
A lease is a legal document that sets out how you rent property from a tenant. It outlines the rules of how the property will be used by the tenant, and gives you a way to enforce them. It can also be a good tool to settle disputes.
A free residential lease usually has a term of one year, but it can be longer or shorter as agreed upon by the parties. It is best to make the date of expiration a day before the first full month of the lease, for easier accounting and record keeping.
You can also include payment due dates, a minimum monthly rent amount, and any other information that is relevant to your rental business. You can even require that your renters pay via electronic methods, instead of paper checks or money orders! After you fill out our questionnaire, we’ll generate a PDF of your free lease for you to instantly sign with your tenants.
Legalities
Despite what many people think, there is no such thing as a “free” lease. It’s a legal contract and you’ll want to make sure that yours is comprehensive and protects you as the landlord.
Most free residential lease templates are pretty generic, so be sure to read them thoroughly before approving one. Also, be aware that most states have specific landlord-tenant laws surrounding security deposits and the handling of them.
If you’re going to be asking for rent every month, it’s best to require that your tenant pay it electronically (either by credit card or ACH). This will save you a lot of time and effort and you won’t have to worry about making trips to the bank to deposit checks and cash. Plus, it will help you keep track of your cash flow better. You can also select whether the landlord charges a late fee on rent that isn’t paid on time. This is another great way to protect yourself as a landlord.
Fees
There are a few different kinds of fees that can be included in a Free Residential Lease. They include late rent fees, bounced checks, and guarantor requirements. All of these fees are important and should be written in a clear and concise way that is both fair to the tenant and compliant with local and state laws.
A late rent fee is a fee that the landlord charges if a rental payment is not paid by the date specified in the lease. This can be a set amount or a percentage of the rent.
Bounced checks are a headache for both the landlord and the tenant. They can cause bank fees to be incurred, and the tenant will still have to pay for the cost of returning the check.
Most states have specific laws governing the collection, handling, and disposition of security deposits. This can make it a good idea to incorporate the terms of the security deposit in your lease agreement.
Schedules
The free lease aficionado can choose from many different styles of contracts, but most include at least a few standard components. In addition to the most obvious rent and lease terms, the fanciest ones usually incorporate a few bells and whistles, including those all-important renter perks that make the whole experience that much more satisfying for both landlord and tenant. It’s a good idea to do your homework before laying down that first deposit. You’ll be happy you did!